Redefining Normal

In eighth grade Mrs. Mycock made the whole class have a discussion defining normal, with the point that you can´t really because it´s based on individual perspective - what is normal and what is not. I feel like every week on the mission redefines my standard of normal, mostly because I say to you guys every week that the week was crazy, and then the next one turns out even more! Never a dull moment here in Argentina.

So Tuesday night, we were in divisions like normal (right now I have divisiones every week because Hna Anderson is STL), when all of a sudden the lights went out on me and Hna Passow as we were finishing a lesson. We walked out into the pitch black street, because not only all the house lights were out but all the street lights as well. So we were like "uhhh... we´re gonna call the Elders" (when in doubt, call the Elders :). So I called and was like "Hi the lights just went out every where and we can´t see anything and we don´t know where to go or what to do" (because it was only like 7:30. "ok hermana, do you know the way to your house?" "yes, elder". "Walk to your house." haha, ok I feel like that conversation is funnier when you say it in Spanish but whatever. Anyway, the lights never came back on so we spent a very hot night without fans or anything that night. Anyways, long story short some transformer stopped working that gives power to the whole city, so not only was there no luz but also the electricity is what powers the water supply, so the water was cut as well. (except we always had water in our pension #milagros). So things were pretty interesting all week, including people collecting the rain water, which miraculously came on the second and third day of it all, to bathe and flush toilets. You know, things in general were just cray.

The whole city got put on a rotation, where various barrios got electricity for a certain chunk of the day, because they brought one transformer to replace it, which came broken, etc etc problems all over the place, now there are giant generators on the road by the church which is keeping the important parts going, but right now we don´t have electricity in the pension, except it will probably come tonight because we´ve been getting it during the night since we live in the centro and they need to protect the shops during the night. Oh and this whole week we´ve had to go back to the pension early, as soon as it gets dark, which I totally haven´t minded at all because I miss downtime. :)

but besides all the craziness, we had a very very good week work-wise so things are good there!

Questions from the family:

Any last minute advice for the final week? How not to die of stress and become an anxious ball or nerves?

Just breathe. Do things that help you feel prepared or distracted. You´re going to be ok, and the mtc is just super great so don´t even worry. The Lord is the same in todos lados, and He knows you can do it!

how has this week been?!

crazy, see above :)

how is hermana anderson?

things are good!!

do you guys get to do anything for easter sunday?

um, we have a district conference so we´ll be traveling to Apostoles again. It´s not really easter related I think, but still fun!

ok I´ve gotta go, but I love you all!! hopefully everything I typed really fast makes sense. :)

love,

hermana rawlins :)

This is what our night has looked like every night this week

I finally decided I needed to buy myself momentos of the Amanda mate, so here´s me and my new mate Thermos and can of mate!! :) I´m gonna have the coolest house decorations for sure, mate with my name on it. boo yah.

Conferencia!

Ok first I have some matters of business for you all that I want you to see quick.

I got the package yay!! Who knew about the Sweetart chicks, ducks, and bunnies, and sent them "on Brian´s behalf"? That made me laugh a lot :) I love it all so thank you!!

I want to know more about my great-grandpa´s. And yes I mean specifically the grandpa´s thats not an english mistake :), Do you guys have stories or histories that you can send me? Also about the grandma´s too would be interesting :)

Also this week I got a letter from Bryce (Amanda’s great uncle) that I just loved! He said he was curious about how people speak here. The typical sh accent that everyone thinks is Argentine is actually just in Buenos Aires and other distinct parts, so no I don´t have it here or hear it here, except from the specific people who are Porteno as we call them, or from Buenos Aires. Also Uncle Bryce, I would love to hear about whatever stories you want to tell me! I promise I wouldn´t fall asleep from boredom or anything :)

So this week was long and involved a lot of travelling. We were in Posadas for two days and then we had divisiones for two days and then we went to Apostoles for two days for conference.

I wish i could share all my thoughts from conference but there are two many! I was gonna take a picture of my notes but then I forgot and now the computer is being stupid anyway. I decided that the title of the next Ensign (a magazine published by our Church) shouldn´t be Ensign, it should be Obedience. I lost count of how many talks were about that. I think Elder Bednar´s was my favorite, about taking upon us the Savior´s yoke and how our burdens are necessary to help us grow. I also liked how they talked about the "joyful burden" of discipleship, I thought that was interesting. Also "I would never have asked for this trial, but I would never give it away". That really touched me, and I´m starting to feel that way about my mission. Also in the prophet´s closing remarks him saying "Heavenly Father is personal and real. Realize how close He is willing to come and how far He is willing to go with us". I just really liked that. My thoughts about conference are a lot more poetic in my head but I got rushed along with some computer difficulties, so I´m sorry!

But know that I know that this is truly the church of Jesus Christ, and that His very prophet spoke to us this weekend. I testify that Christ Himself leads this church and will lead us as we follow Him and His loving guidance.

Questions from the Family:

Did you love conference?

Yes, how could you not love conference??!

Do you still understand English? :)

Yes, gratefully, but my notes show some really pathetic grammar mistakes :)

You haven't had mashed potatoes thrown at you, have you? :(  that talk by Elder Holland got to me! We are so proud of you! And know that you are sustained through very hard things.

nope, no mashed potatoes, but men do have a habit of yelling things at us that shouldn´t be said to a daughter of God.

love you guys a ton!!

-Hermana rawlins

Redefining Mormon Swag as we travelled to and from conference, including the people drinking mate up front. I really wanted to put a bumper sticker on the back of the sketchy bus that said "come, join with us" ;)

we love general conference!! especially in english!

guess what this is, and if you guess "giant ant hole" you´re right!